Locking device for demountable automobile-wheel rims and the like.



F. D. HILLER, JR. LOCKING DEVICE FOR DEMOUNTABLE AUTOMOBILE WHEEL RIMS AND THE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED lUNE 17. I915v 1,172,287. Patented Feb. 22.1916.

' will a 22 FRANKD.HILLER,

(W1. TED STATES rATEN OFFICE.

FRANK D. HILLER, .13., OF WEBSTER GROVES, MISSOURI, AssIGNbR "'ro {TIL-1C0 RIM LOCK COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OE'MISSOURI.

LOCKING DEVICE FOR DEMOUNTABLE AUTOMOBILE-WHEEL RIMS AND 'ITHE LIKE.

Application filed June 17, 1915. SeriatN0. 34,664.

To all. !'/mm it In (13 (Jo/warn:

e it known that I llt.'\. 'l{ l). llmucu, .ltz. a citizen of the l nitedfitates. -residing at Webster (ii-ores, St. Louis county, Missouri, lnu'e inrented a certain new and useful Illl prorement in Locking Devices for Demountahle'Automohile-\\'heel Rims and the like, of which the following is a specification, reference heing had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part the'reot.

This inrention relates fftlltlilll) to automohile. wheels and the like and. more particularly. to thatelass of automohile wheels having demountahle tire-holding rims. the principal object of my present invention heing, to provide a simple. inexpensiw. and readily manufactured derice capahle of easy and-(convenient unmipulation and aetuat'ion for quickly, etiicientty and rigidly release ahly or detaeliahly locking the demountahle rim on'the wheel. i

With theahove and other objects in view, my present invention resides in certain norel features of form, eonstruetion. arrangement. and eomhination of parts. all as will herei'ual'ter he. descrihed and 'at'terward pointed out in the elailns. I

in the aecompauyint, drawing, which shows my invention in preferred form, Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevatioual view of an automohile-wheel equipped with my invention. the. me umatii-. on other tire. ol the wheel hein; omitted; Fig. i is an enlarged tr.-ms\erse sectional riew through the same with my new rine-loelt'ii'ig deriee. shown in lull lines in ttnloeltedposition; Figs. 2. and -l are. elerational "views. showing. respecvti\'el the outer and inner or front and rear tat-esof the tire-rim engaging lug or memher tormiug part of my new rim-lm1kin;

de\iee: and l i gs. Fraud i are respt-etivel side ,eleYulImntl and plan \"iews ol' the. same. Referring to the said drawing. |n whieh like reference charactersr ter to like parts throughout. the. se t'eral \'ie\\ 's. l. indicates the usual wooden l ellv ot :tli' automohile lmml .1 at it Specification of Letters Patent.

. stitute what I will term the it.

u-o.\'imatel v parallel cau'textt and spread suital ilyapzn'tfto "1 side fades thereof. as;

-l-1---' l -l o l levers 1 1F 12. with it Patented Feb. 22,1916.

is a continuous or a11nt |lafr-tl. uige{engaging flatwise. upon the outer jside This hand' 2 with its 'ttgmg 's 3 and l-f'con- A ani-cngaging member. 2

5 indicates a demoimtahle run (if any approved or standard corist'r-udioii.this"rim, which is adapted, as willbe \"ell understood, to engage with antitholda pntntniatie or other tire (not shown). includingoppositely disposed side-pmtions or flanges ti ti' preferahly eonvexed or curved at their outer on under faces as illustrated in Fig. 1 2. .In operation or use. rim 5 lsadapted tofe-neircle.

and fit on hand 2 with its side portion ti engaging at its under face with, flange 3. as shown in Fig. 2!. flange 3 having a correspondinglv eoneared, curved, or 'otlwrwise. suitably shaped upper face. smoothly. firmly, and positivelywith the side portion (3 of rim Flange." 3 so engaging with rim 5, theTrii'n Tris tlemoi'mtahly or detaehahly locked on the wheel by my new rim-locking device. now to he described. \lrausversely fitting loosely through telly l and the flange 4 of hand 2 and projecting: at its opposite. ends suitahlj hevont-l :llange t and the'opposite side factrof felly il saholt or the like 7 preferably tlireaded atone end, as at N. to adjnstahly-receive-a securingnot 3 a washer IOljeing,preterahly interl2--l2 indicate a pair of small parallel lerers preterahly suitably liXed together. At. their inner ends, however,- levers 2--l2 at 13, and provided longitiidiw suitahly auuularlyroi nded at t he triea'llvv engage ht iad ll of jliolt' t' o opposite. attg l in Fig. .11. l lxte'n ling .ftra ni e1 through l-ead ll of ho'lt v7 and both rape in s upset upoir the outer. fan-g ol" the. ensions ll -l-l, is a pirot-pin l5 for i\".otall fastele in; le\'ers 1L and their said estensioi'is l4 permanently to holt 7. i I

laaiselr interposed on llo'lt. .7'hel. \'ee| the .outer side taee ul telly 'i and" le \"t l'e.\tell- .sious H, is a lug or the like. ii'liieh .l will ccof telly 1. p

to engage itensions term the movable rim-engaging member. Thismember or lug has preferably the shape and form shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5, and

6 and integrally includesa body-portion 16 and a topportion 17, body-portion 16 being .transversely cut-away or apertured within its area, as at 18; At the base of, and opening into, cut-awa'yportion or aperture 18, is a second or reduced cut-away portion or aperture 19 in body-portion 16, cut-away portion 19 being' rounded at its base, as at 20, and being of such size or dimensions relatively to the diameter, of bolt 7 as to neatly and somewhat snugly accommodate and fit bolt 7 when the movable rim-engaging member is in rim-engaging position. It. may be here stated that, as seen in Fig. 1, when the movable rim-engaging member'is in' locking engagement with the rim 5, camextensions 14 of levers 12 are adapted to camwise engage the said rim-engaging member upon its outer face and at opposite sides of said reduced cut-away portion 19 thereof.

Projecting inwardly or rearwardly from, and forming substantially a part of, topportion 17, is a flange-extension 21. At its under face,'this flange-portion or extension 21 is preferably of suchgradual' or gentle longitudinal curvature as. to neatly and smoothly fit upon and thereby engage with band 2 when the movable rim-engaging member is in rim locking position, as. indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. At its up per face, top-portion 17 and its flange-extension 21 are. as shown in Figs. 2 and5, continuously gently curved concaved, or otherwise suitably shaped to engage firmly, smoothly, and positively with side-portion 6 of rim 5 when the movable rim-engaging member is in rim-locking position. At its forward edge and centrally rearwardly or inwardly therefrom, top-portion 17 with its flangeextension 21 is apertured or cut-away, as at 22, continuously with cut-away portions or apertures 18 and 19 of body-portion 16, theunder face of flange-extension 21 being somewhat roundly undercut or recessed, as at'23, at the base of said cut away portion 22 to neatly fit and accommodate the periphery of bolt 7 when; the.mov-

able rim-engaging member is in rim-unlocking position, the movable rim-engagin member being adapted to hang on bolt when in rim-unlocking position, as illustrated in full lines in Fig. 2, with its rim engaging face uppermost or outermost relatively to the wheel and with bolt- 7 at its periphery engaging the movable rim-engaging member at its said recess 23.

As shown in Fig. 5, body-portion 16' is preferably somewhat thicker at its upper end than at its base, the outer face thereof being somewhat curved or concaved to facilitate coi'iperation and frictional engagement with cam-extensions 14 of levers 12 when said. cam-extensions are actuated to, and when the same are in, rim-locking position.

On its rear face and at its base, body-portion 16 is further preferably provided with a small somewhat rounded rearwardly extending projection, as at 24, adapted to provide a point of contact or fulcrum upon flange 4 for the movable rim-engaging. mem ber when the same, with its flange-extension 21, is being actuated or driven, under the cam action of extensions 14 of levers 12, into locking engagement with the rim 5.

Rim 5 being mounted in position upon the wheel with its said side-portion 6 engaging, as described, with'fix'ed flange 3 and the movable rim-engaging member being manually or otherwise suitably moved from the position thereof shown in full lines in' ment with the movable rim-engaging member, positively and securely releasably lock said member in looking engagement with the rim 5, the rim 5 being thereby rigidly locked demountably operatively on the.

wheel. It is,of course, to be understood that the wheel as a whole may be pr'ovided with 1 any desired number of my new rim-locking device, the same being arranged in the form of an annular series around the wheel, levers 12, when in rim-locking position, as shown in dotted linesin .Figj12, lengthwise projecting radially inwardly toward the hub of the wheel and thus severally occupying but small space and in no way impeding the rotary movement of the wheel or interfering with parts .of the car or vehicle upo which the wheel may be mounted.

ll-p demount the rim 5, it is only necessary td'i re'vei sely swing levers 12, when the said fii'pvable rim-engaging members are free to fall outwardly away from and out of en- "gagement with the rim 5 and into the position thereof shown in full lines in Fig. 2, the movable rim-engaging members, when in .such rim-unlocking position, being sus pended upon bolts 7, as before described, in convenient position to be again readily and quickly manipulated and locked into engagement with the rim'5 It may be here stated that cut-away,port1ons or apertures 18 of the movable rim-engaging members are of such widthas to somewhat snugly :n-wmmovlate t':lll1-e.\tet1:--lol\s 1;. when :anl nunahle rinl-ele w nihers are in rim unloehing posipartial movement of 1;? to i.m mrlting po ition when said iig memh rs are in rimamloeltl hfwltit ll. aint\tensions ll will projeet into. Jilll l'rietionallv engage said movahle riniengaging nieinhers at the inner lat-es ot the walls oi .--aid apertures and therehy maintain or hold said memher-s in position on said holt with their mtitl rinrengaging i sti'eppermost or outerm st relatively to th t wl. rotary movement oi said menihers on Flutl holts when the same are in rinruni a-iv'ing position heing thus prevented. \Yith tsr moi ahle rmrengaging memhers o hangiii); and -.-n; agi-d upon holt; T when in rimltliltnl'lliit'j po ition. as deserihed. a rim as "El he :-ttll. may he easily. tpiieklv. and eonnn-ntl removed from. or plat-ed in opera- .iw position on the wheel.

3 have from experienee found my new rim ooking devi r to he most. ellieient in posaizely and rigidly loeliiug and maintain- ;g tae tl mountahle rim upon the wheel and rtt till same may he readily and eonvenn-ntl manipulated tron: either rim-loeking to tilltiililtit'hllltf positioiuor l'rom rim-uniot-ie-ng to i'llll-l()(l\'.lH;.[ position. the de inoantahle rim being thus ltltlittl or Inn lovlv-ud upon the wheel (]lll(l l and without the u e of w renehes or other like tools.

i am aware that minor ehanges in the form. ronstruetion. armngement, and comhiinitian of the several parts of my new rimloelqing deviee may he made and sub- .iituted those herein shown and deii/ed without departing from the nature 5 p 'iza-ipit of my invention. I aim .n thus di serila-d my invention, what i iiaim and =le-i1'e to s eure by Letters Patnt is. 1 .v

or hindingtv l ttl loelv'ing deviee for deniountahle whe lrims ineluding a holt adapted to transversely engage the telly of the wheel, a lever having a pair of spaced eanrexteniona tilting eeeentt'irally upon opposite sides o1" said holt. said lever being pivotally .tarttaietl at its said extensions permanently to said holt. and a rim-engaging member Ioosr-lv fitting n said holt intermediate ot Hlltl Fever and he telly of the wheel, said lever being adapted. when swung to rimlo lting position. to eamwise engage at its mid =Xtell--.l( l|s with said memher to releasa l v sex-are titrsame in locking engagement itli the. rim.

A loeliit-g device for demountable wheel-rims including a holt adapted to transversely engage the telly ot' the Wheel, a lever liming a pair of spat-ed tllil-0X'tQ1lnew. said lever heing pivotally fastened to swing relatively to the holt, and a rim-engaging memher loosely fitting on said bolt intermediate of said leve' and the telly of the wheel. said le\er heing adapted. when swung to rim loelv'ing position. to eamwise engage at its said extensionswith said memher to releasahly seeure the same in loeking engagement with the rim. and to further engage at its said extensions with said mem her. when said memher is in rim-unloeking position. to loek said memher from movement on the holt relativelv to said lever.

ii. loelv'ing deviee tor demountahle wheel-tints ineluding a holt adapted to transversely engage the i'el'v ot' the wheel. a lever having a pair of spaeed eanrexteir sions. aid lever heing pivotally tastened to swing relatively to the holt. and an apertured rinrengaging memher loosely fitting on said holt intermediate of said lever and the telly of the wheel. said lever heing adapted. when swung to rim-loelv'ing position. to eamwise engage at its said extensions with said memher on opposite sides of its said aperture to releasahlv seeure said member in loekiug engagement with the rim, and to further engage at its said extensions with the inner tat-es of the walls of the aperture of said memher. when said memher is in rim-unloeking position. to loek said memher i'rom movement on the holt relatively to said lever.

4. A loelv'ing deviee for demouutahle wheel-rims including a bolt adapted to transversely engage the fellv of the wheel, an apertured rim-engaging memher loosely fitting on said bolt, and a lever having a pair of snaeed (aim-extensions pivotally fastened to swing relatively to the bolt and adapted to ealnwise engage with said mem her, when swung to rim-loeking position, to releasahlv lot-k said member in locking engagement with the rim, said lever being further adapted to project at its said extensions into, and frietionally engage with the walls of. the aperture of said memher, when said memher is in rim-unlocking position, to loek said member from movement on said holt relativelv to said lever.

5. In a locking device for demountable wheel rims. the emnhination with a bolt adapted to transversely engage the telly of the wheel and a lever having a pair of spat-ed ram-extensions pivotally fastened to swing relatively to the bolt. of a rim-engaging memher loosely fitting on said bolt, said memher having an aperture adapted to reeeive the extensions of said lever, when said men'iher is in rim-unlocking position, to lock said member from movement on the bolt relatively to the lever.

6. In a locking device for demonntable wheel-rims, the combination With a bolt adapted to transversely engage the felly of the wheel and a lever having a pair of spaced cam-extensions pivotallv fastened to swing relatively to the bolt, of a rimengaging member having an opening to accommodate said bolt and loosely fitting thereupon, said member having a relatively large aperture continuous with said opening, with the inner faces of the Walls of which aperture said le er at, its said extensions is adapted to frictionally engage, When said member is in rim-unlocking position, to lock said member from movement on the bolt relatively to the lever.

7. In a locking device of the kind described, a rim-engaging member integrally comprising a body-portion and a laterally flanged top portion, said body-portion and said top'portion with its said flange being provided with a relatively large aperture, substantially as and for the purposes described, and said body-portion being provided with a reduced smaller aperture opening into said relatively large aperture and rounded at its base to accommodate a supporting-bolt.

In testimonv whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

FRA N K D. HILLER. JR. 

